Device for separating stacked sheets



June 22, 1965 w. 5. SMITH DEVICE FOR SEPARATING STACKED SHEETS 4 Sheets-Sheet l Fl Ill Filed Feb. 28, 1965 June 22, 1965 w. 5. SMITH DEVICE FOR SEPARA'IING STACKED SHEETS June 22, 1965 w. 5. SMITH 3,190,642

DEVICE FOR SEPARATING STACKED SHEETS Filed Feb. 28, 1963 J as 57% 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 fzz er fon %%er 5. Jmpifi June 22, 1965 w. 5. SMITH 3,190,642

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g wwhrw United States Patent 3,190,642 DEVICE FOR SEPARATING STACKED SHEETS Walter S. Smith, Naperville, 111., assignor to Mickie-Goss- Dexter, Incorporated, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 23, 1963, Ser. No. 261,808 8 Claims. (Cl. 271-42) The invention relates to pile separating devices of the portable type for insertion between sheets of a stack for separating a pile of said sheets from the remainder, or for separating the stack from a supporting surface, and has reference more particularly to devices of this character which will embody improvements over that shown in the patent to William H. Sorenson, No. 3,095,193 granted June 25,1963.

Accordingly, one of the basic objects of the invention is to provide a pile separating device which will incorporate means to facilitate movement of the same relative to the sheets being separated while simultaneously preventing contact between any moving portion thereof and the adjacent sheets or support.

Another and more specific object of the invention resides in the provision of a pile separating device which will employ air under pressure for propelling the flexible member of the present device in an entering direction when inserted between sheets of a stack for separating the same.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pile separating device which will employ a balloon-like flexible member of longitudinal shape and which can be inflated to cause a forward extending portion of the member to progressively increase in length, whereby when the mem her is located between the sheets of a stack a separating function results. In connection with the foregoing it will be understood that the progressive increase in length of the forward extending portion of the member takes place without any relative movement between the sheets and the said member.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pile separating device wherein a balloon-like flexible member is employed and which is generally annular in cross sec tion as regards a forward extending portion of the member so that upon being inflated the member is caused to unfold in a manner which causes the forward extending portion thereof to increase in length.

Another object of the invention is to provide a balloonlike flexible member of longitudinal shape which will have utility as a separating device for a stack of sheets and which can be withdrawn from between the sheets and wound on a reel having location within a pneumatically sealed housing.

With these and various other objects in view the invention may consist of certain novel features of construction and operation as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the specification, drawings and claims appended thereto.

In the drawings which illustrate an embodiment of the device and wherein like reference characters are used to designate like parts- FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a pile separating device embodying the features of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the pile separating device shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along line 3-3 of FIGURE 2 on an enlarged scale;

FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially along line 44 of FIGURE 3, and on the same enlarged scale as said figure;

FIGURE 5 is a transverse sectional view through the extended nose portion of the balloon-like flexible member, substantially along line 5-5 of FIGURE 3;

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FIGURE 6 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along line 6-6 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURES 7 and 8 are views illustrating the manner of using the device as shown in FIGURES 1 to 6, inclusive, for separating a pile of sheets;

FIGURE 9 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 99 of FIGURE 10, and showing a modified form of pile separating device coming within the invention;

FIGURE 10 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 1010 of FIGURE 9; and

FIGURES 11, 12 and 13 are views illustrating the manner of using the modified form of the invention as shown in FIGURES 9 and 10.

The pile separating device shown in FIGURES 1 to 6, inclusive, essentially comprises a base member 16 which may be fabricated from a suitable length of hollow metal tubing that is preferably rectangular in cross section so as to provide a relatively wide top wall 11 which may function as a load supporting surface, a corresponding bottom wall or supporting surface 12, and connecting side walls 13 and 14, FIGURE 6.

At the rear of the base member 10 the metal handle portion is suitably fixed to the bottom wall 12 by securing screws such as 16, 17 and 18. The discharge end 20 of a hose 21 is screwed into the recess 22 formed in the handle portion 15, and said hose thus delivers air under pressure to the passage 23 having the shoulder 24. The plunger 25 is mounted in the passage 23 and the plunger is so oriented as to normally locate the piston discs 26 in contact with the shoulder 24. The piston discs are suitably secured to the plunger by the screw 27. The plunger and the discs are somewhat smaller in diameter than the passage and the recess in which they are respectively located so that the elements have free reciprocating movements when the operator reciprocates the plunger by depressing the finger part 28 located exteriorly of the handle portion. The plunger is sealed with respect to the walls of the passage 23 by the rubber ring 36 which is located adjacent the finger part end and between the same and the intersecting bore 31. The bore extends upwardly and communicates with the interior of the base member through the opening 32.

The rear end of the base member 11) is additionally provided with a closure member or plug 36, the said plug having a sealing fit with the inside walls of the base member by means of the encircling rubber ring 37. The plug 36 is preferably formed of a tough and stable synthetic plastic of the type having a low coefficient of friction. The said plug is fixed in position within the rear portion of the base member by the screws 17 which additionally secure the base member to the handle portion 15. Also, the plug is formed with the passages 38 for receiving a pair of connecting cords to be presently described.

Rearwardly beyond the plug 36, the side walls 13 and. 14 are apertured at 40 for accommodating the pulleys 41 and 42, and which are journalled for free rotation by the securing screws 18. The screws pass through the top and bottom walls 11 and 12 of the base member and are anchored in the handle portion 15. The slide member 45 is mounted on the base member 10 for sliding movement for approximately the length of the base member. The two parts 46 and 47 of the slide member are fixedly connected by the screws 43 which pass through openings in part 47 and are threaded in part 46. For pneumatically sealing the slide 45 with respect to the base member, the part 47 is grooved internally and the rubber sealing ring 49 is retained in the groove.

In accordance with the invention the pile separating device includes a flexible tube 50 which envelopes the front end of the base member. The outer circular wall 51 of the flexible tube is fixed at 52 to the front part 46 of the slide member. The connection between the slide member and the outer circular wall 51 is such as to form a pneumatic seal, thus preventing the escape of any air from the tube. The inside wall 53 of the tube is folded as best shown in FIGURES 5 and 6, and the inside wall as thus folded extends within the hollow base member. Thus the tube may be considered as having a reverse bend to provide a forward portion having approximately the shape of an annulus in transverse section. The terminus of the inside wall 53 is fixed to a yoke 54 by means of the rivets 55, and a filler 56 is located within this end of the flexible tube and between the arms of the yoke to provide a seal at this rear end. The slide 45 is operatively connected to the yoke 54 by means of the cords 57 and 58, and which pass around the pulleys 41 and 42, respectively. The cords also pass through the openings 38 in the closure member 36, and since the cords move with respect to the stationary closure member, a close but sliding fit is required in order to prevent the leakage of air from inside the base member. Accordingly the cords 57 and 58 are preferably formed of nylon, or similar plastic material, and the flexible tube 50 may be formed of a polyester resin or any other similar strong and pliable synthetic plastic. In fact, the tube may be made of a rubber coated fabric provided the material is air tight and suificiently flexible as to fold within the hollow base member and to unfold in a manner which will now be described.

FIGURES 7 and 8 illustrate the manner of using the device as described for separating a pile of stacked sheets such as indicated by numeral 60. The forward extending portion of the flexible member 50 in deflated condition is inserted in the right edge of the pile and between adjacent sheets to be separated as shown in FIGURE 7. The insertion is such as to position the slide 45 in contact with the right edge of the stack. The operator then depresses the finger part 28 to admit compressed air to the interior of the base member and which is prevented from escaping at one end by the plug 36 and at the other end by the flexible member 50. Accordingly, the compressed air acts to inflate the forward portion of tht flexible member, the same having enclosing relation with the front end of the base member. The said forward portion is thus caused to increase in length as inflation of the balloon-like member continues. More and more of the invaginated portion of the flexible member passes around the reverse bend to become outside wall, and in this manner the flexible member moves between the sheets to separate them. However, it will be appreciated that the forward portion of the balloon-like member increases in length at the expense of the inside wall, and thus no relative movement takes place between the wall 51 and the adjacent sheet or sheets. As separation of the sheets continues the base member moves with respect to the slide in a forward direction, the said movement taking place automatically by reason of the cords 57 and 58 which operatively connect the slide with the inside end of the flexible tube.

In the modified form of the invention as shown in FIGURES 9 and 10, the base member is omitted and the device essentially includes only the flexible tube with connections for controlling the folding and the unfolding of the same. The housing for containing the flexible tube when deflated is generally indicated by the numeral 70, the same comprising the side plates 71 and 72, the connecting and enclosing edge plate 73, and the securing bolts 74. The edge plate 73 is provided with the opening 75 in the forwardly disposed portion of the housing, and the bottom arcuate portion of plate 73 is apertured for receiving the threaded end 76 of the hose 77. By means of the hose, air under pressure can be delivered to within the housing. A supporting leg 78 is fixed to the housing exteriorly thereof and said leg includes a depending yoke for straddling the rail 79. The housing 70 journals the shaft 80 by means of the bearings 81 mounted on the side plates, respectively, by means of the rings 32. Stepped collars 83 are located in spaced relation on that portion of the shaft between the bearings, and the shaft is adapted to be manually rotated by the hand wheel 84 having the handle 85.

A nozzle or ring 86 is suitably welded to the forward portion of the edge plate 73 in alignment with opening 75, and said ring provides an annular supporting member for the flexible tube 87. The said tube 87 which is balloon-like and elongated in shape is similar and functions in a manner similar to the tube 50 as previously described. The outside wall 88 of the tube is telescoped over the ring 86 and said wall is clamped to the ring by the clamping element 89. The clamping action of the element is such as to form a seal for this end of the tube. The forward portion of the tube is annular in transverse section, since the reverse bend at the forward terminal end locates the inside wall 90 of the tube within and substantially axially of the ring 86. To facilitate this inside folding of the wall 90 a number of overlapping folds are formed therein as shown in FIGURE 10, and with the inside wall thus folded the same is wrapped around the shaft 8t) as shown in FIGURE 9. The coiled length of inside wall is positioned centrally on shaft 80, the same being located between the retaining plates 91 and 92. One end of the tube 87 is thus clamped at 86 and the opposite end is closed and sealed at 94 to a length of metal tape 95, FIGURE 13. The metal tape has a length greater than the length of the flexible tube when fully extended, as clearly evident from said figure, and the end of the tape at the left beyond the closed and sealed connection 94 terminates in the ball 96. The tape 95 extends to the right for the full length of the tube and thus the tape extends through the ring 86 and to the shaft where it is fixedly connected to the shaft at 97, FIG- URE 9. Thus the tape 95 and also the folded inside wall of the tube 87 are wound on the shaft 80 when the tube is in a deflated condition.

In operation, the modified form of pile separator is similar to that as described for FIGURES 1 to 6, inclusive. The forward extending portion of the flexible tube 87 when deflated is inserted in the right edge of the pile 100 between the sheets to be separated, and compressed air is then admitted to the housing 70. The air inflates the forward portion of the tube and said forward portion is thus caused to increase in length as the inside wall 90 passes around the reverse bend and becames outside wall 88. The action is clearly evident from FIGURES 11 and 12. Inflation of the flexible tube is continued until the forward portion has worked its way completely through the pile, whereupon the ball 96 is ejected from within the tube to a position exteriorly of the tube, FIG- URE 13. The action of the compressed air in inflating the flexible tube is to locate the metal tape completely through the stack, thus effecting a separating action with the adjacent sheets. As regards the modification of FIG- URES 1 to 6, inclusive, the inflating of the flexible tube will locate the base member 10 completely through the stack of sheets. The operation is repeated until the required number of separators necessary to support the stack have been inserted at spaced intervals.

The invention is not to be limited to or by details of construction of the particular embodiment thereof illustrated by the drawings, as various other forms of the device will, of course, be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a sheet separating device, in combination, a longitudinal rigid member having a passageway extending from end to end, a slide on the member and having encircling relation therewith, a closure element within the member adjacent the rear and forming a pressure seal for the passageway at said end, a flexible tube of predetermined length, said tube normally including an approximately circular outside wall and an inside wall joined by a reverse bend whereby as the tube unfolds the inside wall becomes an outside Wall and which thus pro gressively increases in length, means provided by the slide for clamping and pressure sealing the terminal end of the outside wall to the slide, other means located within the passageway for closing and sealing the terminal end of the inside wall, and connecting means passing through the closure element for operatively connecting the slide to the said other means.

2. In a sheet separating device as defined by claim 1, additionally including a source of fluid under pressure and which is admitted to the passageway between the closure element and the opposite end of the longitudinal rigid member.

3. In a sheet separating device as defined by claim ll, additionally including means for sealing the slide with respect to the member in a manner which does not restrict movement of the slide, and a source of fiuid under pressure having connection with the passageway between the closure element and the opposite end of the longitudinal rigid member.

4. In a sheet separating device as defined by claim 1, additionally including a pair of pulley elements journalled by the member within the passageway on respective sides and rearwardly beyond the closure element, and wherein the connecting means includes a pair of cords which connect with the other means, pass through the closure element, around the pulley elements, respectively, and thus extend exteriorly of the longitudinal rigid member for connection to the slide.

5. In a sheet separating device, in combination, an elongated flexible tube of predetermined length, said tube normally including an approximately circular outside wall and a folded inside wall connected by a reverse bend, whereby as the tube unfolds the inside wall becomes an outside wall and which thus progressively increases in length, a housing providing a pressure sealed chamber, a circular part extending from the housing and communicating with the chamber, means clamping the terminal end of the outside wall to the circular part, whereby the inside wall extends through the circular part and into the chamber, a structural member comprising metal tape of predetermined length secured to the terminal end of the inside wall to provide a seal for this end of the flexible tube, said tape being retained within the sealed chamber, and a source of air under pressure hav-- ing connection with the housing for admitting air to the sealed chamber.

6. In a sheet separating device as defined by claim 5, additionally including a spool within the sealed chamber and journalled by the housing for rotation, said metal 6 tape and folded inside wall being wound on the spool being unwound therefrom as the flexible tube unfolds.

7. In a sheet separating device in combination, an elongated flexible tube of a predetermined length, said tube normally including an approximately circular outside wall and an invaginated inside wall joined by a reverse bend, a housing providing a fluid pressure chamber, a circular part extending from the housing and communicating with the chamber, means clamping the terminal end of the outside wall to said circular part, said inside wall extending inwardly through the circular part and into the chamber, a structural member connected to the terminal end of the inside wall for longitudinal movement with said end Within the outside wall, means for introducing fluid pressure into said chamber whereby the invaginated inside wall is ejected to progressively extend the length of the outside wall as said tube projects between the sheets, and flexible means connected to said structural member for retracting the terminal end of the inside wall to its invaginated position within said chamber.

3. A sheet separating device of the character described comprising an elongated invaginable tube adapted to be projected between and withdrawn from a stack of sheets, said tube normally comprising an outside wall and an invaginated inside wall joined by a reverse bend, means for inflating said tube whereby the invaginated portion of said tube is ejected to progressively extend the length of the outside wall as said tube is projected between the sheets, and retracting means connected to the terminal end of said inside wall and wholly contained within the outside wall when said tube is fully extended for retracting the terminal end of said tube to its invaginated position and whereby said tube is withdrawn from between the sheets.

References Eited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 491,794 2/ 93 Barker.

1,464,513 8/23 Sutherland 271-81 2,200,800 5/40 Miller 271-26 X 2,854,150 9/58 Shea 271-26 X 3,033,558 5/62 Slemmons et al.

3,095,193 6/63 Sorenson 271-42 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,108,710 6/61 Germany.

ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner.

RAPHAEL M. LUPO, SAMUEL F. COLEMAN,

Examiners, 

1. IN A SHEET SEPARATING DEVICE, IN COMBINATION, A LONGITUDINAL RIGID MEMBER HAVING A PASSAGEWAY EXTENDING FROM END TO END, A SLIDE ON THE MEMBER AND HAVING ENCIRCLING RELATION THEREWITH, A CLOSURE ELEMENT WITHIN THE MEMBER ADJACENT THE REAR AND FORMING A PRESSURE SEAL FOR THE PASSAGEWAY AT SAID END, A FLEXIBLE TUBE OF PREDETERMINED LENGTH, SAID TUBE NORMALLY INCLUDING AN APPROXIMATELY CIRCULAR OUTSIDE WALL AND AN INSIDE WALL JOINED BY A REVERSE BEND WHEREBY AS THE TUBE UNFOLDS THE INSIDE WALL BECOMES AN OUTSIDE WALL AND WHICH THUS PROGRESSIVELY INCREASES IN LENGTH, MEANS PROVIDED BY THE SLIDE FOR CLAMPING AND PRESSURE SEALING THE TERMINAL END OF THE OUTSIDE WALL TO THE SLIDE, OTHER MEANS LOCATED WITHIN THE PASSAGEWAY FOR CLOSING AND SEALING THE TERMINAL END OF THE INSIDE WALL, AND CONNECTING MEANS PASSING THROUGH THE CLOSURE ELEMENT FOR OPERATIVELY CONNECTING THE SLIDE TO THE SAID OTHER MEANS. 